Partner Article

Audio phenomenon hits region’s property market

TECHNOLOGY which will revolutionise the process of buying and selling property is to be rolled out across the region by a North East firm.

Husband-and-wife team Paul and Mary Milliken, who run Darlington-based Property Search Group (PSG), have invested in bringing the rapidly-growing ‘AudioTours’ phenomenon to the region’s property market.

Their new venture, Audioagent, adds the power of the spoken word to online property slideshows, through the use of professional voiceovers and background music, perfect for estate agents looking to sell properties.

The completely bespoke service comprises an individually crafted script to reflect the particular characteristics of the property and is supported by a team of professional voice artists to call on.

Clients can specify a particular regional accent or even a different language for the voiceover - resulting in a hugely powerful interactive presentation tool which has the appeal and impact of a TV or cinema ad.

“Buyers love AudioTours, because they help them visualise properties online in a way never before possible,” said Mr Milliken.

“The combination of a tv-style advert, full colour photos, a comprehensive property description, maps and floor plans, is the next best thing to actually being there and can be such a powerful selling tool for estate agents.”

Mrs Milliken, who like her husband has a decade of experience working in the region’s property market, said: “The AudioTours service can be easily uploaded, not only to an agent’s own website but also to all of the major property portals they advertise on.

“They can be emailed to prospective buyers and, given the growing importance to businesses of online social networking, they can appear on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, if you wish and it can be viewed on a phone.”

Mr and Mrs Milliken have invested in the Audioagent franchise for County Durham and Teesside and are targeting both commercial and residential sales and lettings agents in the area.

The pair joined PSG in 2000 after six years of running a post office and corner shop in Richmond, North Yorkshire. Prior to that Mr Milliken enjoyed a varied career in the coal mining, oil exploration and governmental sectors of Canada, working across the country in the open prairies, the arctic, Rocky Mountains and British Columbia.

Meanwhile, Mary had a thriving career at a multinational insurance firm in which she advanced quickly into a management position.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .